Increasing evorel patch aged 60

[Timefortea123]

I have been on the 50mg Evorel patch for over 5 years (Mirena coil for progesterone) But recently I have been feeling like I’m running on empty with brain fog, low mood, hair loss and joint aches and stiffness. My estradiol level came back at 119 pgmol and marked as normal. Thyroid, b12, Vit D came back ok. Ferritin a little low at 30. I am now 60 but would there be any benefit in increasing patch to 75 mg or do GPs prefer older women to stay on lower estrogen HRT due to risk/ benefit ratio.
Thanks for reading

I think it really depends on if you have any health conditions that could contraindicate increasing your hrt.
Tbh in your shoes I'd be increasing my (very low) ferritin to at least 60 before anything else and see if that helped.
Also, you say vit d was normal, but do you know what it actually was?

Also, you'll probably get better responses if you ask for this to be moved to the menopause section.

Thank you so much for replying, my vit D was 70 which was surprising! (has been much lower in the past). I will try to move the post into menopause section too

Hi op. If you are having increasing symptoms, I'd would definitely be increasing. I'm on 100mcg patch and sadly I can't have any more than that. But I am full of rage, absolutely exhausted and weepy for the first time since I started HRT and I wish I could have a further boost of oestrogen.

I'd tell the GP you want to try it. There are no age limitations to HRT.

I upped my patch to 75 - feel so much better for it too. I’m 57 but I got the impression to stay at this level was only temporary. I m giving it a year but one big reason to stay on it is to stave off arthritis which crippled the previous generations of females in our family.

Thanks for the replies. Yes osteoarthritis (and osteoporosis) is rampant in our family and it’s one of my main fears going forward. I was hoping an increase in estrogen would have this protective benefit as I’m really starting to feel the joint aches and pains (hobbling first thing in the morning!) Thanks again for taking time to reply 🙏

It's quite a low dose. I'm on double that to control my symptoms. I'm also 60.

Prescribing of HRT is meant to go on symptoms not blood results. So given you have symptoms it's not unreasonable to increase.

Thanks everyone for responding, I’m going to see the GP for a review 🙏